Hard Candy

2005

Director: David Slade

Distributor: Lionsgate Entertainment

Key Elements: Lines – Concept – Story – Message

My Review:

This was my first introduction to Ellen Page, who later gained fame for her role in Juno. She is an incredible actress.

The story is simple, but artistically delivered. We think a girl is walking into a pedophile’s trap, but then she flips everything around. It’s she who has set the trap. And she’s out to get the guy who took her friend. It’s exactly what we’d all love to see happen to that kind of freak.

By the end of this movie, this guy probably wishes he’d just run into Chris Hansen on Dateline’s To Catch a Predator.

The fact that she wears a red hood is a coy bit of imagery. We think she’s little red riding hood walking into the wolf’s den. But really, she’s the wolf.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• Does my face lie?
• Nothing's yours when you invite a teenager into your home.
• Wow... You know, that is so thoughtful! You are speaking to me so selflessly! I mean, you just don't want me to castrate you for my own benefit? Wow, I'm touched. Jeff, why don't we imagine someone saying the same thing to you at a random moment? Imagine that when you downloaded this little girl... I was sitting by your side saying, "Stop! Don't do that to yourself!" Would you have listened?
• It's just so easy to blame a kid, isn't it! Just because a girl knows how to imitate a woman, does NOT mean she's ready to do what a woman does. …I mean, you're the grown up here. If a kid is experimenting and says something flirtatious, you ignore it, you don't encourage it. If a kid says 'Heeey, let's make screwdrivers' you take the alcohol away and you don't race them to the next drink!
• I’ll take care of everything …or not.

Stills: